How Long This Time?

Fun and computer games continue.  Thanks to a buddy, I got back on the internet in December, then went off it again.  I bought a new pc and somehow managed to get it hooked up and, well here I am again.

For how long who knows?

Plus, I now have to figure out how to get to my other three blogs on this site.  I haven't posted on them since May of 2023.

Love It But Hate It.  --RoadDog

Long Time No Blog

I lost internet connection last May and am finally back on.

Right now trying to figure out how to do these blogs and e-mail and all sorts of stuff.  Should keep me busy for awhile.

--RoadDog

Trying to Reason With an Ice Storm-- Part 3: Icy Neighborhood

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023

I walked carefully out to the truck which was parked outside. The driveway was covered in ice, but part way to the street was clear.  Also, the street did not appear to have any ice on it either.  After some tugging, I was able to get the driver door open and grabbed an ice scraper.

The ice came off in sheets, fortunately,so wasn't as bad as I anticipated.  My long time neighbor across the street walked over and said he was without electricity as well, but had used his fireplace last night and slept by it where they stayed warm.  He said he had heard we weren't getting electricity until Saturday.  I sure didn't want to hear that.  It got pretty chilly last night as it was.

(I had heard that it might be later today or perhaps even as late as Saturday for some.  I found this out on my new smart phone which, of course, being battery operated, was still usable for the internet.  Something I didn't know how to do with the old flip phone I had.)

I was happy to find the streets in out subdivision were perfect.  That is a good thing as we have some hills in the area.  I saw that some of my pine tree limbs were bent and touching the ground.  Quite a few tree limbs down on my way and even a couple trees.

Drove down the hill to US-12 (Rand Road) and saw that the Midwest Breakfast Company had electricity.

Time for some breakfast.

--RoadIce

How I Do These Music Deaths Posts

I get the names and dates from the Hope I Die Before I Get Old site.  The first thing about the person you read also comes from that site.  

Then I go to obituaries and/or Wikipedia for the rest of the information as well as Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1993."

Then, I go to You Tube and listen to their music, especially if it is an artist I don't know very well.  I have found a lot of artists that I wish I had known about earlier.  Outstanding music.

--RoadDog

TRIVIA:  With the aid of three servicemen, what actress and pin-up girl left an imprint of one of her million dollar legs at Grauman's Chinese Theatre?

Betty Grable

Things That Are Since 2010-- Part 2: Fitbit to Uber

Since we've reached the end of yet another decade.  Just between you and me, don't these decades seem to be slipping by too fast?

JUNE 2, 2011--  Slut Shaming as a term attacking a woman for her sexual choices.

JUNE 2, 2011--  Fitbit

SEPTEMBER 23, 2011--  Uber, the ride-hailing service

NOVEMBER 3, 2011--  selfie

NOVEMBER 13, 2011--  Bitcoin

DECEMBER 9, 2011--  Pinterest

Uber Me.  But I Don't Have a "Smart" Phone.  --RoadDog

TOP TEN COUNTRY SONGS:  "Mama Get a Hammer (There's a Fly On Papa's Head)."

Things That Are Since 2010: Siri to Tiger Mother

From the December 15, 2019, Chicago Tribune "From Airbnb to TikTok, the things that have risen onto our radar screen in the 2010s" by Eric Zorn

A very interesting look at new words we picked up in the last decade.

***************************

2010

JULY 19, 2010--  "Siri" is the name of Apple's digital assistant.

AUGUST 13, 2010--   "Angry Birds"

SEPTEMBER 10--  "catfish" as a verb to describe creating a fake online persona to scam a would-be romantic partner.

OCTOBER 18--  Instagram

**************************

2011

JANUARY 15, 2011--  "tiger mother"  as a term for aggressive parenting.

JANUARY 20, 2011--  Venmo  (Sorry, I haven'tn heard this one.)  (mobile wallet, I looked it up)

Now, ask me how many of these I have used.

Siri.  Put On the Drive, 97.1 FM.  --RoadDog

TOP TEN COUNTRY SONGS:  "I Liked You better Before I Knew You So Well."

JSS: Last Week for Lin Brehmer's WXRT Morning Show-- "1917" and "Star Wars IX"-- Jo Jo Rabbit"

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  LAST WEEK FOR LIN BREHMER'S WXRT MORNING SHOW--  After a real long time, WXRT's Morning Show host, Lin Brehmer is leaving the show, but not going too far as he switches from his 5:30 to 10 am slot for the afternoon slot from 10 am to 2 pm.

Most every morning, I listen to him (and former co-host Mary Dixon) if I am not listening over the internet to Jim Morgan at the Surf 94.9 FM out of Myrtle Beach, S.C.).

I'll sure miss him in the morning, even though he had that really bad case of Cubitis,  a huge love of the Cubbies.  Bit, at least now he will be able to stay up to watch his favorite team when they have night games.

2.  "1917" AND "STAR WARS IX"--  Yesterday, I went to the Fox Lake Theatres and saw these two movies for the second time.  Movies like this need to be seen on the Big Screen and in that wonderful surround sound.  And, not just seen once, but twice.

A 70-inch screen is good, but no comparison to the Big Screen.

3.  "JO JO RABBIT"--  I went to see this because it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture, along with Scarlet Johansson for Best Supporting Actress.  This was an outstanding movie with humor, sadness and the horrors of Nazi Germany.  Well worth seeing.

--RoadDog

TAX FACTS:  Even the easiest form, the 1040E has 33 pages of instructions, and all of it is in FINE PRINT!!

JSS: So Tired of Cyber Monday-- New Christmas Movies-- My Favorite Christmas Movies-- Snow Didn't Stick-- The Drive In Lights

JSS--  Just Some Stuff

1.  SO TIRED OF CYBER MONDAY--  If I heard it or saw it once....  They just don't give it up.  By the way, I didn't order anything over the internet Monday or even leave the house on Friday.  Sorry guys, you lost that bit of your advertising dollar.

2.  NEW CHRISTMAS MOVIES--  I heard that Hallmark Channel has 40 new Christmas movies.  One of these days I might have to watch one of their Christmas movies.

3.  MY FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIES--  I have added a fifth to my list of favorites.  It is "Scrooged."  Hey, Bill Murray.

4.  SNOW DIDN'T STICK--  It snowed over night on Monday, but did not stick on the driveway, sidewalks or street. I sure don't mind snow when I don't have to mess with it.

5.  THE DRIVE IN LIGHTS--  One of the three Chicago radio stations I listen to, WDRV, 97.1, 96.9 FM, the Drive, has a contest where the winner gets $1,000 if they have the best WDRV lights up in their yard.

Thinking About It.  --RoadDrive

DID YOU KNOW.  Telly Savalas and Louis Armstrong died on their birthdays.

Boomer Radio Vintage Rock

Just sitting here typin' away with my two little fingers and listnin' to Vintage Rock on Boomer Radio over the internet.

Great music from the 60s and 70s, my prime time.  And they not only play the old familiars, but also ones I've never even heard before, but the feel is there.

Since I've been listening:

THE RUMOR--  Band
THE WIND--  Circus Maximus (never even heard of them before)
ALL DAY AND ALL OF THE NIGHT--  Kinks
THEM CHANGES--  Buddy Miles

CRY BABY--  Janis Joplin
WHEN YOU'RE A FREE MAN--  Moody Blues
SIT DOWN I THINK I LOVE YOU--  Buffalo Springfield
BEING FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. KITE--  Beatles

TRUCKIN'--  Grateful Dead
CHRISTINE'S TUNE--  Flying Burrito Brothers
THE WIND CRIES MARY--  Jimi Hendrix
MY DAYS ARE NUMBERED--  Blood, Sweat & Tears

BORN IN CHICAGO--  Paul Butterfield Blues Band
I FEEL FREE--  Cream
GLAD TIDINGS--  Van Morrison
SHAPES OF THINGS TO COME--  Max Frost & the Troopers

FRESH AIR--  Quick Silver Messenger Service  (I can never guess the name of this song.  I always think it should be "Have Another Hit."
GIMME SHELTER--  Rolling Stones
THE ACID QUEEN--  Who
THE BELLS OF RHYMNEY--  Byrds

POWER FAILURE--  Procul Harum
KASHMIR--  Led Zeppelin
OUTSIDE OF A SMALL CIRCLE OF FRIENDS--  Phil Ochs (One of the most interesting songs I've ever heard.  Before today, I never heard it.
MY FRIEND--  Steve Miller Band

KILLING FLOOR--  Electric Flag
HOW DO YOU FEEL--  Jefferson Airplane
FUNK #49--  James Gang
BLUES THEME--  David Allan & the Arrows

IF NOT FOR YOU--  George Harrison  (Doing his best Dylan imitation.  That's who I thought it was at first.)
WHEN YOU'RE STRANGE--  Doors
SPACE ODDITY--  David Bowie
SWEET HITCHHIKER--  CCR

Give It a Listen.  --RoadDog


SIGNS OF OLD AGE:    You send money top PBS.

Did Anyone Die In Your House? Here's How to Find Out

From the Nov. 12, 2013, Yahoo! News. "Website Tells Who Died At Your House" by Alan Farnham, Good Morning America.

Check it out at DiedInHouse.com. If you move into an older home, find out if there were any murders, suicides or natural deaths in your house. I bet the folks who moved into the "Amityville Horror" or "Conjuring" would have liked to know.

This is the idea of Roger Condrey, but it will cost you $11.99 for a report.

A Small Price to Pay for Peace of Mind. --RoadDog

BOO!!

Went to DeKalb (Capital "K") for Da Game-- Part 3

I found out that after all these years of spelling DeKalb with a small "k" that it is actually a capital "K".  That's a good college education for you.

A big crowd at Fatty's, but nowhere as near the standing room only ones they get after Huskie football games (and that includes the huge outside area which is closed now for some reason).

We had good talks with some of the fans, including the man who calls himself "Facebook Guy" and NIU dean who runs the school's Facebook page and a couple of grad students from College of Engineering who had been to all the games (home and away) and bowl games the last two years.

The crowd would have been bigger except the students were home for break.

We used our special 24 ounce Fatty's glass NIU schedule and Back-to-Back MAC Championship mugs.

Lots of cheering whenever the Huskies did well, but, unfortunately, Utah State had Jordan Lynch's number and he made mistakes and we lost.

Oh well, always more fun to watch a game on TV with a bunch of fans pulling for your team.

Sure glad we didn't spend the $2,000 apiece to go to San Diego.

Looking Forward to Next Year. --RoadDog

Hey, Mom, Welcome to the Real Internet

Mom just might get on the internet today, and I'd like to be the first to welcome you. Make sure you thank Bob and Judy for getting that laptop for you, ESPECIALLY after all they went through. Hopefully Annsley and Julie taught you enough about using it to get you started.

No more Web TV for you, or excuses as to why you couldn't get something. Make sure to send along your new e-mail address.

My blogs:

http://downdaroadigo.blogspot.com this one
http://sawtheelephant.blogspot.com Civil War
http://roaddogsroadlog.blogspot.com the road, history, and preservation.

No More Web-TV for Mom. --RoadDog

Listening to the Surf for the Last Time?

Well, perhaps the last time.

If the government has its way, the days of live broadcasts over the internet might just come to an end on the 15th of this month. The rates they are demanding will put these small guys out of business.

The last time they did this several years ago, The Surf went to a pay arrangement, and I lost my Billy Smith for a long time until I saw that they had gone back to free listening.

This will also affect Live 365, and other great outlets like Fessa John Hook's Endless Summer station.

I sure would miss my Beach Music. There is No station here in Chicagoland where I can get a dose of what I need.

Don't Let 'Em Take my Music Away!! --RoadDog

Dem Bands on the Chain

Chain of Lakes, that is. Great place to be anytime of the year, but especially during the summer when the boating season is in full swing. I've heard that the Chain of Lakes, which is about 45 miles northwest of Chicago, near the Wisconsin border, is the second busiest boating place in the US, right behind the Intercoastal Waterway.

I do my boating during the week and leave the weekends to the "weekend warriors" as we locals call them. I do go to places by car to enjoy the bands, and we have quite a few really good ones.

Saturday, I went to the American Legion which is on the shore of Nippersink Lake. It has a great old classic sign and is right across historic US Route 12 (which goes from Detroit to the Pacific Ocean at Aberdeen, Washington) from an art deco sevice station dating back to the 30s.

The MICHAEL LESCHER BAND was playing outside under the pavillion and sounding as good as ever. They are the only band I know that incorporates a lot of the Who and Styx in their shows. They were playing for the people on the poker run which, unfortunately, I was unable to do.

Michael Lescher is involved in Fox Lake politics and is a well-known real estate agent specializing in waterfront property. I was sitting with a group of people I just met, and one said she was a waitress for him when he owned the Settle Inn on Eagle Point Road. It was a great place to go back in the 80s when I used to deejay at Eagle Point Park, better known as the Puppet Bar. At one point in the show, he mentioned that he had had a band since 1978.

Unfortunately, it turned quite cool and most of the people left by 9 (they played from 5:30 to 9:30). Even with just a few people, they put on an inspired show.

The ONLY SONS at CAPTAIN"S QUARTERS- Sunday

Where else do you want to be on a fantastic Sunday afternoon than at Captain's. I met Bill, Klaus, and Kora there and sat at a picnic table enjoying Bloody Marys and Mudslides-a Captain specialty. As usual, it was hard to find a seat, even at one of the picnic tables out in the grove. The wait staff sure earn their money; they are nonstop.

I've seen the Only Sons for quite a few years with the exception of two when they didn't play at Captain's. This is probably the best band on the Chain or in the Chicagoland area where they usually play. They also play a wide variety of songs. Some that they played: Me and Julio Down at the Schoolyard, Cecilia, I'm a Believer, Brown-Eyed Girl, Mr. Jones, Footloose, Save the Horse Ride the Cowboy, Keep Your Hands to Yourself, then the owner got up and sang Midnight Train to Georgia and did quite a job on it.

Out on the Chain and Feeling No Pain. 'Fessa Parrot as I go by on the Fun on the Fox Forum.

www.funonthefox.com

Jus' Out Having Fun.  --RoaDog

My Top Ten Beach Songs

I just finished voting for my picks for the top 40 Beach Songs on The Surf, 94.9 FM out of North Myrtle Beach, SC. I'm sitting here in Illinois, listening to Billy Smith do his Morning Show live. That's really something. Listeners to the station are invited to cast their votes from a list of 60-70 songs.

My Top Ten Picks this week:

1. Highway #9- Tharold Huffman
2. Beach Music and Bar-Be-Que- Clifford Curry
3. Billy's Club Savoy- Out of Towners
4. Creek Don't Rise- Gary Bass
5. Eat Mo Grits- Coppertones
6. Drink Up- Big Time Party Band
7. Heartbreaker- Butch Hargett Project
8. Shag Beach Party- Clifford Curry
9. If There's a Tear- Craig Woolard Band
10. Carolina Beach Motion- Summerdaze

Keep on Beachin' Down that Two Lane Highway. --RoadBeach